HOSPITAL WASTE AFFECT THE ENVIRONMENT What is hospital waste?
That is all kind of waste from hospital and some small clinics, nursing home for example IV bags, syringes, organ tissues….
Hospital waste was managed in conventional ways In developing countries they usually manage hospital waste improperly. Vietnam, Pakistan…..for example Waste from hospital was mixed with municipal waste and treated similarly. They also buried body organs, autopsies into the land or even inside hospital
Outpatients who use syringes routinely at home just throw used syringes into trashcan because they think that is safe, inexpensive and easy way.
Wastewater from hospital was discharge directly into public drainage systems or local rivers without being treated
Affecting of hospital waste
On the environment Hospital waste was buried into the land improperly will contaminate underground water, land and air in that area Wastewater discharge into public river can polluted local river there and some species which lives in river. On people Hospital waste was not managed properly will threat on people. These sharp items like syringes from waste can cause a cut easily transfer infectious diseases People who live in Pakistan usually pick up disposable syringes and sell it to the market or some drug addicts reused disposable syringes. This will affect on the people use it with dangerous diseases
Wastewater from hospital discharge into public rivers can affect on fishers, or people live around that area, for example water use for cancer treatment can cause cancer for those who contact with the material
SOURCES USED
1.The nightingale institute for health and the environment, " Pollution Prevention for Nurses: Minimizing the Adverse Environmental Impact of Health Care Delivery.
"by Hollie Shaner MSA, RN http://www.nihe.org/p24nurse.html, sep 10
.the world's largest incinerator in Detroit, Michigan
What is the incinerator?
,
That is the place where to burn all kind of household trash or infectious waste from hospitals, medical clinics or doctor 's office
Detroit's $478 million trash incinerator can burn 3,600 tons of trash/day
Do you know?.
Incinerator ( for example , Detroit incinerator, Michigan) is capable of producing up to 1,000 tons of toxic ash per day
Healthcare facilities generated over 73,000 tons of medical waste each year
Hospital waste was managed in Alternative way
Instead of bury trash into landfill, most of hospital use the alternative way is incinerator that mean they burn everything eliminated from hospital. They think this way is quick, save money, safe , no need land to bury waste as well as decrease volume of infectious hospital waste. Government misunderstoodincinerator is untimately way for hospital waste besides, it can prevent contacting between public and infectious hospital
what is the affection of incinerator on the environment and people health?
On environment
Dioxin was created when we burned PVC plastics and other materials that contain chlorine. Hydrogen Chloride is a major component in the production of both acid rain and dioxin. These clorine can fall into the land, water, fishes and animals around that place can be infected with this chlorine .
Mercury which have in thermometer, batteries. blood presure...these materials when be burned will release mercury into the environment. Therefore contaminated the environment, water, land , animal...the incinerator is already one of the highest sources of mercury emissions into the air. Mercury is considered a "biocide" that harms all living things
On people Dioxin when people eat contaminated foods, fishes, meats or daily products. It will affect the inmune system, reproductive , or can cause cancer. The toxic ash produced during test burns caused health effects to workers on the site like skin rashes, swollen throats, uncontrollable nose bleeds, coughs, vomiting and skin blisters Mercury People eat contaminated food, meat, especially fish as known that contain high of mercury so mercury come into body and damage body central's nervous system, brain, kidneys, lungs...Pregnant women and children are usually at risk
2. Mindfully.org, “ Healing the Harm: What’s Wrong With Incineration Of Medical Wastes” By Mark J. Huff and Peter de Fur, Virginia Commonwealth University – Center for environmental Studies, http://www.mindfully.org/Air/Incineration-Whats-Wrong.htm, Dec 11.
Why incineration is not the ultimately way for hospital waste management?
After burning all of waste deposed from hospital .Hospital nowadays realize that hospital waste incineration can damage on environment and people health.
What is the ideal way for manage hospital waste ?
Nowaday, Hospital doesn’t need to burn all of hospital waste anymore.They can take step to reduce the waste need to be burned and reduce toxic into the environment and people health harm
Medical Waste Bins
What will we do?
We have to classified properly hospital waste and put it in different color bags or container for different purpose
Recycling : paper, aluminium, glass( after cleaning and sterilization) , x – ray film...
Incineration : Organs, tissues, blood….
Deep burial : body ashes ( after incineration)
Autoclaving : laundry, dishes,Glass
Chemical disinfection : tubes, IV sets ( after chemical disinfection and then shredding )
Shredding : sharp items ( needles..),
Reduce hospital waste because we can reduce the trash need to be burned
Using non toxic equipment alternatives such as non mercury thermometer, or non PVC plastic items
Training and making sure all of staffs know how to handle hospital waste properly
Conclusion
As we all know pollution of air, water,,,are going up. Protecting the environment not only one men show but also need commited and whole heart effort by everyone
SOURCES USED
1. Indian Society Of Hospital Waste Management, “ Frequently asked Questions Biomedical Waste Management.” http://www.medwasteind.org/random.asp, Dec 11
This article mention about the hospital waste management in Pakistan. The improper disposal of hospital waste in Pakistan as well as how it affect on the environment….I found this article have very useful and interesting informations about Pakistan
This source from Environmental Pollution Unit, WWF. Pakistan (.org) . i think i can trust this website. There are many clear and details informations about hospital wastes since i am so interesting in nursing major. This website include six links to another sources, organization ( .org) or government ( .gov ) for more details. This will be a good source of hospital wastes affect on the environment.
Source #2
“Hospital waste flows into rivers”. www.vfej.vn
This website emphasize on the old hospital wastewater treatment systems in Vietnamese hospitals, untreated wastewater from hospital flow into the river and damage on the environment and people living around these areas. I think this is the general matters in some poor country This website is published by environmental journalists. www.vfej.vn. This website is updated everyday and linked to some of very useful other websites. I think I can trust this website Part 2 ( Alternative Way)
Source #1
“ Sindh High Court (SHC) directs govt, hospitals to file comments”
This article was about Sindh High Court directs Organizations and hospitals in Karachi, Pakistan to file comments on a petition seeking close immediately of incinerators because of it threaten to environment and people health. Government in Pakistan misunderstood that incineration is the only way to dispose hospital waste. All kind of hospital waste was be burned lead to release high toxic into the environment.
I found this website is very interesting to me, and it can be trusted . www.apnakarachi.com. I think it will be a good source for me
Source #2
“Healing the Harm: What’s Wrong With Incineration Of Medical Wastes”
Mark and Peter, they are both from Virginia Commonwealth University, mentioned on New Jersey hospitals try to put all of hospital waste in the incinerator because they think this strategy is simple , quick and reduce the volume of waste on landfill . However, incinerator is not the clean process according to Virginia University- Center for environmental studies. Incinerator is the main source which release high toxic into environment . Dioxin and Mercury.
This website is from an organization .orgso this is very reliable webpage. This webpage is also have various and useful informations .
Part 3 ( Ideal Way)
Source #1
" Medical waste incineration "
This website is about how incineration affected on the environment , dioxin and mercury was generated while burning hospital waste, the solutions and alternative methods. Let reader know how dangerous it is from incinerator on people and environmentI
This website is about incinerator one of the parts to manage of hospital waste so i found it is interesting to me. I think i can trust this website because it have phone numbers, addresses... of some local, regional, and national organizations
Source #2
Indian Society Of Hospital Waste Management, “ Frequently asked Questions Biomedical Waste Management.”
This Website is from india, it express very detail, clear on hospital waste management, how to collect , receive, store, transport, …infectious waste from hospital, what kind of waste need incineration, recycling, autoclaving, deep burial , landfill or chemical disinfection….
This article help me get more knowledge on the hospital waste management. This webpage is reliable . org.and it is also updated webpage. We can also find contact address on it
2. The nightingale institute for health and the environment, " Pollution Prevention for Nurses: Minimizing the Adverse Environmental Impact of Health Care Delivery. "by Hollie Shaner MSA, RN http://www.nihe.org/p24nurse.html, sep 10
3. www.wwfpak.org," Hospital Waste Factsheet ", Compiled and edited by Environmental Pollution Unit, WWF- Pakistan, http://www.wwfpak.org/factsheets_hwf.php, sep 10.this
1.Polution Prevention for Hospital and Medical Facilities, “ Medical Facilities: Part of the Solution to Water Polution”, http://www.p2pays.org/ref/04/03259.pdf, Oct 31, 2009
3. Indian Society Of Hospital Waste Management, “ Frequently asked Questions Biomedical Waste Management.” http://www.medwasteind.org/random.asp, Dec 11
5. “ Eleven Recommendations For Improving Health Care Waste Management”. By Hollie Shaner, R.N and Glenn McRae of CGH Environmental Strategies, Inc of Burlington, Vermont, USA. http://www.cghenvironmental.com/elevenrecs.html. Dec 11.
Ha
Part 1 ( Conventional Way)
HOSPITAL WASTE AFFECT THE ENVIRONMENT
What is hospital waste?
That is all kind of waste from hospital and some small clinics, nursing home for example IV bags, syringes, organ tissues….
Hospital waste was managed in conventional ways
In developing countries they usually manage hospital waste improperly. Vietnam, Pakistan…..for example Waste from hospital was mixed with municipal waste and treated similarly. They also buried body organs, autopsies into the land or even inside hospital
Outpatients who use syringes routinely at home just throw used syringes into trashcan because they think that is safe, inexpensive and easy way.
Wastewater from hospital was discharge directly into public drainage systems or local rivers without being treated
Affecting of hospital waste
On the environment
Hospital waste was buried into the land improperly will contaminate underground water, land and air in that area
Wastewater discharge into public river can polluted local river there and some species which lives in river.
On people
Hospital waste was not managed properly will threat on people. These sharp items like syringes from waste can cause a cut easily transfer infectious diseases
People who live in Pakistan usually pick up disposable syringes and sell it to the market or some drug addicts reused disposable syringes. This will affect on the people use it with dangerous diseases
Wastewater from hospital discharge into public rivers can affect on fishers, or people live around that area, for example water use for cancer treatment can cause cancer for those who contact with the material
SOURCES USED
1.The nightingale institute for health and the environment, " Pollution Prevention for Nurses: Minimizing the Adverse Environmental Impact of Health Care Delivery.
"by Hollie Shaner MSA, RN http://www.nihe.org/p24nurse.html, sep 10
2. www.wwfpak.org," Hospital Waste Factsheet ", Compiled and edited by Environmental Pollution Unit, WWF- Pakistan, http://www.wwfpak.org/factsheets_hwf.php, sep 10.
3. Vietnam forum of environmental journalist, “ Hospital waste flows into rivers “ by Vietnam News. http://www.vfej.vn/en/detail/19932/hospital_waste_flows_into_rivers. Dec 1
Part 2 ( Alternative way)
HOSPITAL WASTE INCINERATION
What is the incinerator?
Detroit's $478 million trash incinerator can burn 3,600 tons of trash/day
Do you know?.
Incinerator ( for example , Detroit incinerator, Michigan) is capable of producing up to 1,000 tons of toxic ash per day
Healthcare facilities generated over 73,000 tons of medical waste each year
Hospital waste was managed in Alternative way
Instead of bury trash into landfill, most of hospital use the alternative way is incinerator that mean they burn everything eliminated from hospital. They think this way is quick, save money, safe , no need land to bury waste as well as decrease volume of infectious hospital waste.
Government misunderstood incinerator is untimately way for hospital waste besides, it can prevent contacting between public and infectious hospital
what is the affection of incinerator on the environment and people health?
On environment
Dioxin was created when we burned PVC plastics and other materials that contain chlorine. Hydrogen Chloride is a major component in the production of both acid rain and dioxin. These clorine can fall into the land, water, fishes and animals around that place can be infected with this chlorine .
Mercury which have in thermometer, batteries. blood presure...these materials when be burned will release mercury into the environment. Therefore contaminated the environment, water, land , animal...the incinerator is already one of the highest sources of mercury emissions into the air. Mercury is considered a "biocide" that harms all living things
On people
Dioxin when people eat contaminated foods, fishes, meats or daily products. It will affect the inmune system, reproductive , or can cause cancer. The toxic ash produced during test burns caused health effects to workers on the site like skin rashes, swollen throats, uncontrollable nose bleeds, coughs, vomiting and skin blisters Mercury People eat contaminated food, meat, especially fish as known that contain high of mercury so mercury come into body and damage body central's nervous system, brain, kidneys, lungs...Pregnant women and children are usually at risk
SOURCES USED
1. Greenpeace, “ The problem” , by Greenpeace, http://www.greenpeace.org/international/campaigns/toxics/incineration/the-problem, Dec 11.
2. Mindfully.org, “ Healing the Harm: What’s Wrong With Incineration Of Medical Wastes” By Mark J. Huff and Peter de Fur, Virginia Commonwealth University – Center for environmental Studies, http://www.mindfully.org/Air/Incineration-Whats-Wrong.htm, Dec 11.
3. Apna Karachi.com. “ SHC directs govt, hospitals to file comments”. By SHC, http://www.apnakarachi.com/SHC-directs-govt-hospitals-to-file-comments.html, Dec 11
Part 3 ( The Ideal Way )
Why incineration is not the ultimately way for hospital waste management?
After burning all of waste deposed from hospital . Hospital nowadays realize that hospital waste incineration can damage on environment and people health.
What is the ideal way for manage hospital waste ?
Nowaday, Hospital doesn’t need to burn all of hospital waste anymore.They can take step to reduce the waste need to be burned and reduce toxic into the environment and people health harm
What will we do?
We have to classified properly hospital waste and put it in different color bags or container for different purpose
Recycling : paper, alum
Incineration : Organs, tissues, blood….
Deep burial : body ashes ( after incineration)
Autoclaving : laundry, dishes, Glass
Chemical disinfection : tubes, IV sets ( after chemical disinfection and then shredding )
Shredding : sharp items ( needles..),
Reduce hospital waste because we can reduce the trash need to be burned
Using non toxic equipment alternatives such as non mercury thermometer, or non PVC plastic items
Training and making sure all of staffs know how to handle hospital waste properly
Conclusion
As we all know pollution of air, water,,,are going up. Protecting the environment not only one men show but also need commited and whole heart effort by everyone
SOURCES USED
1. Indian Society Of Hospital Waste Management, “ Frequently asked Questions Biomedical Waste Management.” http://www.medwasteind.org/random.asp, Dec 11
2. “Medical waste incinerator” compiled and maintained by the Sustainable Cleveland Partnership and NeighborhoodLink, http://www.nhlink.net/enviro/scp/medical.html , Dec 11
3. 4. EHow, “ Hospital Waste Management Procedures” By Charles Calmbacher, http://www.ehow.com/how-does_5437806_hospital-waste-management-procedures.html?ref=fuel&utm_source=yahoo&utm_medium=ssp&utm_campaign=yssp_art. Dec 11
SUMMARY AND EVALUATION OF SOURCES
Part 1 ( Conventional Way)
Source #1
"Hospital Waste Factsheet" www.wwfpak.org
This article mention about the hospital waste management in Pakistan. The improper disposal of hospital waste in Pakistan as well as how it affect on the environment….I found this article have very useful and interesting informations about Pakistan
This source from Environmental Pollution Unit, WWF. Pakistan (.org) . i think i can trust this website. There are many clear and details informations about hospital wastes since i am so interesting in nursing major. This website include six links to another sources, organization ( .org) or government ( .gov ) for more details. This will be a good source of hospital wastes affect on the environment.
Source #2
“Hospital waste flows into rivers”. www.vfej.vn
This website emphasize on the old hospital wastewater treatment systems in Vietnamese hospitals, untreated wastewater from hospital flow into the river and damage on the environment and people living around these areas. I think this is the general matters in some poor country
This website is published by environmental journalists. www.vfej.vn. This website is updated everyday and linked to some of very useful other websites. I think I can trust this website
Part 2 ( Alternative Way)
Source #1
“ Sindh High Court (SHC) directs govt, hospitals to file comments”
This article was about Sindh High Court directs Organizations and hospitals in Karachi, Pakistan to file comments on a petition seeking close immediately of incinerators because of it threaten to environment and people health. Government in Pakistan misunderstood that incineration is the only way to dispose hospital waste. All kind of hospital waste was be burned lead to release high toxic into the environment.
I found this website is very interesting to me, and it can be trusted . www.apnakarachi.com. I think it will be a good source for me
Source #2
“Healing the Harm: What’s Wrong With Incineration Of Medical Wastes”
Mark and Peter, they are both from Virginia Commonwealth University, mentioned on New Jersey hospitals try to put all of hospital waste in the incinerator because they think this strategy is simple , quick and reduce the volume of waste on landfill . However, incinerator is not the clean process according to Virginia University- Center for environmental studies. Incinerator is the main source which release high toxic into environment . Dioxin and Mercury.
This website is from an organization .org so this is very reliable webpage. This webpage is also have various and useful informations .
Part 3 ( Ideal Way)
Source #1
" Medical waste incineration "
This website is about how incineration affected on the environment , dioxin and mercury was generated while burning hospital waste, the solutions and alternative methods. Let reader know how dangerous it is from incinerator on people and environmentI
This website is about incinerator one of the parts to manage of hospital waste so i found it is interesting to me. I think i can trust this website because it have phone numbers, addresses... of some local, regional, and national organizations
Source #2
Indian Society Of Hospital Waste Management, “ Frequently asked Questions Biomedical Waste Management.”
This Website is from india, it express very detail, clear on hospital waste management, how to collect , receive, store, transport, …infectious waste from hospital, what kind of waste need incineration, recycling, autoclaving, deep burial , landfill or chemical disinfection….
This article help me get more knowledge on the hospital waste management. This webpage is reliable . org. and it is also updated webpage. We can also find contact address on it
POSSIBLE SOURCES
Part 1 ( Conventional Way)
1. The hospitalist, " Go Green" by Jane Jerrard, http://www.the-hospitalist.org/details/article/232265/Go_Green_.html, sep 10
2. The nightingale institute for health and the environment, " Pollution Prevention for Nurses: Minimizing the Adverse Environmental Impact of Health Care Delivery. "by Hollie Shaner MSA, RN http://www.nihe.org/p24nurse.html, sep 10
3. www.wwfpak.org," Hospital Waste Factsheet ", Compiled and edited by Environmental Pollution Unit, WWF- Pakistan, http://www.wwfpak.org/factsheets_hwf.php, sep 10.this
4. eHow, " The Effects of Medical Waste " By Amy Jorgensen, http://www.ehow.com/about_5137120_effects-medical-waste.html, sep 10.
5. Vietnam forum of environmental journalist, “ Hospital waste flows into rivers “ .By Vietnam News. http://www.vfej.vn/en/detail/19932/hospital_waste_flows_into_rivers. Dec 11.
Part 2 ( Alternative Way)
1. Polution Prevention for Hospital and Medical Facilities, “ Medical Facilities: Part of the Solution to Water Polution”, http://www.p2pays.org/ref/04/03259.pdf, Oct 31, 2009
2. Mindfully.org, “ Healing the Harm: What’s Wrong With Incineration Of Medical Wastes”. By Mark J. Huff and Peter de Fur, Virginia Commonwealth University – Center for environmental Studies, http://www.mindfully.org/Air/Incineration-Whats-Wrong.htm, Dec 11.
3. Apna Karachi.com. “ SHC directs govt, hospitals to file comments”. By Sindh High Court (SHC) http://www.apnakarachi.com/SHC-directs-govt-hospitals-to-file-comments.html, Dec 11
4. PARN, PAKISTAN ANTIMICROBIAL RESISTANCE NETWORK, " Hospital waste management " , by Faisal Riaz Malik, http://www.parn.org.pk/index_files/HOSPITALWASTE.html, Nov 1, 2009.
5. EPA, " Understanding the Hazardous waste Rules. Guidance for Hospital Environmental Health and Safety Professionals" by RCRA Inspector Authority, http://www.epa.gov/Region2/healthcare/presentations/rcra.pdf, Nov 1, 2009
6. Greenpeace, “ The problem” , by Greenpeace, http://www.greenpeace.org/international/campaigns/toxics/incineration/the-problem, Dec 11.
7. From ENVIRONMENT magazine, " The Aral Sea : An Environmental Crisis " , by V.M. Kotlyakov, a Russian geographer, page 177- 179 in textbook.
Part 3 ( Ideal Way)
1. “Medical waste incinerator” compiled and maintained by the Sustainable Cleveland Partnership and NeighborhoodLink, http://www.nhlink.net/enviro/scp/medical.html , Dec 11
2. Organiser, "Hospital waste management, Safe disposal for safe environment ", By Dr SS Agarwal, http://www.organiser.org/dynamic/modules.php?name=Content&pa=showpage&pid=311&page=22, Dec 11
3. Indian Society Of Hospital Waste Management, “ Frequently asked Questions Biomedical Waste Management.” http://www.medwasteind.org/random.asp, Dec 11
4. EHow, “ Hospital Waste Management Procedures” By Charles Calmbacher, http://www.ehow.com/how-does_5437806_hospital-waste-management-procedures.html?ref=fuel&utm_source=yahoo&utm_medium=ssp&utm_campaign=yssp_art. Dec 11
5. “ Eleven Recommendations For Improving Health Care Waste Management”. By Hollie Shaner, R.N and Glenn McRae of CGH Environmental Strategies, Inc of Burlington, Vermont, USA. http://www.cghenvironmental.com/elevenrecs.html. Dec 11.
6. The New York Times, “ Bronx-Lebanon Hospital to Shut Waste Incinerator” By James Dao. http://www.nytimes.com/1997/06/27/nyregion/bronx-lebanon-hospital-to-shut-waste-incinerator.html?scp=6&sq=medical+waste+incinerator+%2B+bronx&st=nyt. Dec 11
7, Climate change “ Managing the Global Greenhouse” , page 217-226 in textbook.
8. Honolulu advertiser “ Weighing strategy on climate change policy” By Matthew R. Auer. Posted on : Sunday, Nov 29, 2009.